This site  is a work in progress. I hope to be adding to it on a regular basis.

My name is Steve Conn. I currently live in Crystal lake, IL, about 45 miles Northwest of Chicago. This site was designed so that I could share my interest in astronomy with others by way of pictures and information I've learned during my quest for the stars. I've always looked to the stars with amazement and sitting outside as a child in the yard wasn't enough.

My first telescope, a gift from my mom, was a Tasco 4" reflector with an equatorial mount. Having the ability to turn one knob and track an object across the sky for the entire evening was the coolest thing. I never did much with it other than the common planetary observing of the moon, Jupiter and saturn. I hadn't researched what else was available to see with that size scope.

My next and first real scope was a Meade ETX 90 R.A. version with no go-to capabilities but it got me excited enough to sit outside for hours trying to find messier objects as well as the planetary viewing. That lasted all of about six months until Chuck, a buddy of mine, told me that he had an ETX 125 as well as a ETX 90 with autostar and had recently purchased an 8" Meade LX200. Boys being boys, I couldn't settle for anything less. I was blown away by my newly acquired piece of equipment. Needless to say, the wife wasn't as impressed. I think she said "Size doesn't really matter", but if that was the case I think God could have made the universe a whole lot smaller. It must be a guy thing.

I Purchased a used 8" Meade LX200 classic from Shutan Camera in Vernon Hills, IL for $1895.00. It came with all the original manuals, finder scope, eyepieces and tripod. The previous owner had also purchased a Meade soft carry case, a 1.25" diagonal and a 12v adapter that were included.  It was free of any signs of wear other than the underside of the keypad where the quick guide sticker was wearing out. The optics were great and the go-to calibration was right where Meade said it should be. Of course the first day I got it and the next four days it was overcast and then rainy so I got to familiarize myself with it in the house, but once I got it outside, it was well worth the grief I got from my wife.

Before I knew it, my scope began to grow, as I added a wedge, an eyepiece table, eyepieces, crayford focuser, dew shield, Telrad quick finder and laser pointer. My buddy Chuck's scope was way ahead of mine with wheeley bars, several dozen eyepieces and illuminated reticles and his ETX 90 mounted as a guide scope. It's a battle I'm not up for financially so I'll just add as I see fit. The bigger it gets the less portable it is so until I put in a pier and permanent observatory, the simpler the better.

This site  is a work in progress. I hope to be adding to it on a regular basis.